Each canton shall designate the ethics committee responsible for its territory and appoint the members thereof. It shall oversee the activities of the ethics committee.
Each canton has at most one ethics committee. Several cantons may appoint a joint ethics committee or agree that one canton's ethics committee is also to be responsible for other cantons.
The Federal Council may issue guidelines concerning the minimum number of research projects to be assessed by an ethics committee per year. It shall first consult the cantons.
Each ethics committee shall have a scientific secretariat. Details of the organisation and working methods are to be publicly accessible in by-laws.
The canton shall assure the financing of the ethics committee. It may make provision for the charging of fees.